E. coli outbreak in Japan

The bacterium E. coli has surfaced again, this time in Japan. Around 8,000 Japanese became ill and several died. This is the same bacterial strain, known as O157:H7, that sickened hundreds of people in the U.S. who ate undercooked Jack-in-the-Box hamburgers. Normally, this bacterium is harmless and occupies the gut of most animals. However, this particular strain seems to have picked up a new gene that produces a toxin. The strain was first identified in 1982 and since then has been showing up in outbreaks all over the world.

Source: "Fierce Bacteria Strain Is a Worldwide Problem" by Philip J. Hilts, New York Times, July 25, 1996.

[Return to What's New]

Search | How to Order | E-mail Us